Improvement in sand-pumps



UNITED TATES PATENT QFFICE.

OBADIAH B. LATHAM, OF SENECA FALLS, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SAND-PUMPS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 5l,730, dated December26, 1365.

To all rwhom it may conce/ra:

Be it known that l, OBADIAH B. LA'rHAM, of the village of SenecaFalls,in the county of Seneca, in the State of New York, have invented anewand useful Improvement in Sand- Pumps; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full and exact description thereof', reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings and the letters of' reference markedthereon.

The nature of my invention consists in supplying a current of water orair beneath a sandpump to prevent the occurrence of a vacuum, and theconsequent obstruction of the pump, which may be accomplished by variousmeans.

To enable others skilled in the art to apply and use my invention, Iwill describe the appliances by which I prefer to operate, rstpremising, however, that although denominated a pump,7 this apparatus'is not intended for nor adapted to the elevation of gases or liquids,being more nearly analogous to mud-machines in its construction, modeofoperation, and functions in the removal from wells, ot' whateverdepth, of all descriptions of sediment or dbris preparatory to theapplication of the tluidpump. l

The common sand-pump consists ot' a cylinder, of boiler-tube orgalvanized iron, ot three or four inches in diameter and about six feetlong, with a valve at the bottom. rlhe cylinder is open at the top, overwhich is a strong bail or handle, through which a link passes, to whichis attached the rope which operates the pump.

In constructing my improved sand-pump I envelop this `cylinder with anoutside case or cylinder about a quarter of an inch greater in diameterand of equal length. rIhe two cylinders are firmly fastened together byrivets or other usual modes through the metal blocks I, which also keepthem apart at a uniform distance from each other. The spaces between theblocks I at the top and bottom are open, allowing a free passage betweenthe cylinders from top to bottom. The Ventilating-tube O extends fromthe top to the bottom of the inner cylinder, lying close to the sidethereof, and fastened thereto, and passes through the valve-seat back ofthe valve, as shown at C, Fig. 4. This tube is open at both ends. It

may be made of gaspipe of any convenient diameter proportioned to thesize ofthe pump, and sufficient to admit the passage of water or air. Icommonly use for this purpose gas-pipe of about one-halfan inch indiameter, and by fastening a band about one-fourth of an inch thick andabout one inch in width around the outside at the top ofthe pump, forthc purpose ofa screen for the detached pieces ofrock which may fall andget between said band and the wallsotl the well, which secures adequatespace, allowing the pieces of rock to fall to the bottom ofthe pump,thus preventing the pump A from becoming fast.

The construction of my improved sand-pump will more clearly1 appear byreference to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of thisspecification, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of my improvedsand-pnmp. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center. Fig. 3is a transverse section ofthe longitudinal section; and Fig. 4 is atransverse section of the pump at the bottom, showing the valve and thetube C where it passes through the valvcseat be-y hind the valve.

A is the outside cylinder; B, the inner cylinder; D, the open spacebetween the cylinders; II I I, metal blocks through which the twocylinders are fastened together at the top and bottom, and by which theyare kept at a uniform distance apart. K is the bail. C is aventilatiug-tube, extending through the pump from top to bottom; L,valve seat; E, valve 5 H, valve-hinge.

In boring deep wells the sand-pump is used at a great depth. The weightof the column of water above the pump and pressure of the atmosphere,added to the friction caused by the collection of dbris and the fallingof detached pieces of rock between the pump and sideshof the well, veryoften prevent the operationI of the sand-pumps heretofore in use, avacuum being produced by the upward stroke of the pump and the wedgingin of detached pieces of rock, by which it becomes fast, and is re movedwith great difficulty and expense.

The principle and object of my invention consist in providing the meansfor al passage of water or air through or on the outside of the pump,through au external tube from above to the space below the pump, and itsadvautage consists in admitting ofthe use-of a. pump of greater capacityldnd giving zt more perfect action with less power and expense than isrequired by othcr sund-pumps, and without the liability to become fastin the well. I do not always use both the double cylinder andventilating-tubes; but sometimes dispense with the outside tube undcylinder, as they perform the same occ, and in most cases one ot' themissufcient. When only one is used I prefer to dispense with the outsidetube and cylinder and use the inside Ventilating-tube, which allows thecheapest construction7 and I consider it most convenient.

In the ordinary sand-pump its operation is sometimes unobstructed, inwhich case the dbris and borings become so thoroughly inand beneathtbevalve, substantially :is shownand described.

O. B. LATHAM.

Witnesses:

EDM. F. BROWN, GnAs. L. CHAPMAN.

